A golden retriever known as Honey Bear Henry has become a social media sensation after his owner revealed the one thing he has to have with him whenever he goes to his water therapy sessions.
In a viral TikTok video shared on Friday under the username @honeybearhenry, the 4-year-old New York pup can be seen exercising on the water treadmill during one of his therapy sessions, holding his favorite stuffed duck toy for moral support.
"Dis my Easter duckie," reads the caption.
While the reason behind Henry's hydrotherapy hasn't been confirmed, this is a rehabilitation technique used by veterinarians to address a variety of conditions.
Village Vet explains that aquatic therapy helps to reduce pain and inflammation in dogs with arthritis, and can also be used to treat back and neck problems, as a post operative recovery, and to help weight loss.
The warm water in the tank boosts blood circulation and helps relax recuperating muscles, while the motorized conveyor allows the pup to exercise in a supported and controlled environment.
Hydrotherapy is often used to help conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia, arthritis, spinal injuries, lack of mobility due to old age, obesity, post operative treatment, and ACL injuries.
It comes in different forms. Henry in the clip is using an underwater treadmill, which is usually what many pups start off with, as it has more control over the dog's movements.
There is also whirlpool therapy, often used to reduce pain in dogs post-surgery, and hydrotherapy, a less controlled but still effective way to improve mobility and strength, says the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP).
The video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 7.3 million views and 1.1 million likes on the platform.
One user, Olik, commented: "This is so bloody cute I can't! I need to go and hug my golden retriever right now. Too much cuteness."
Megimoomoo said: "You know what they say, never go into a body of water alone. Always bring a swimming buddy."
LuluJW added: "Okay but why does Easter Duckie have such smooth dance moves."
Newsweek reached out to @honeybearhenry for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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